A mosque in Basildon, Essex, was defaced with red crosses and the words 'Christ is King' and 'This is England' shortly before Friday prayers. The timing suggested an attempt to intimidate worshippers. A local worshipper felt shaken, described the vandalism as a 'kick in the teeth', and said his family now wants to leave the area. Community leaders condemned the act as cowardly, intimidating and criminal, comparing the misuse of the St George flag to historic targeting of minorities. Police launched an investigation, and council staff and volunteers worked overnight to remove the graffiti.
I was so hurt, said the 33-year-old electrical engineer, who requested Al Jazeera use a pseudonym. It was so close to home. My local masjid [mosque]. It felt like a real kick in the teeth.
Don't dress it up. Don't excuse it. It's scum behaviour, and it shames our town The cowards who did this will be caught, he said. To do this right before Friday prayers is no coincidence. That's targeted. That's intimidation. And it's criminal.
The St George flag is a symbol of England we should all be proud of. For it to be used in this way, [which] echoes how Nazis targeted Jewish homes, is a disgrace to our flag and our nation. Silence has allowed hate to grow.
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